If you’re struggling with Zed in LoL, we’ve got you covered with the best counters to play against him.
Zed Counters in LoL – Top Three Choices
There are several champions that players struggle to face, and Zed has historically been at the top of the list. While he may not be as dominant as before, he is still a challenging champion to deal with, especially in the hands of skilled players. Here are the best Zed counters for this season.
If you’re new to the game, check out our guide on how counter picks work in League of Legends to understand the importance of counter picks and how to use them to improve your win rate.
Ekko – A Solid Choice
Ekko may not be the strongest champion right now, but he still performs exceptionally well against Zed. With great wave clear and mobility in the laning phase, Ekko can match Zed’s movements and has an escape tool with the ultimate, Chronobreak. Timed well, this allows Ekko to avoid Zed’s death mark damage and heal up most of the damage taken.
Echo is also strong in short trades before level six, particularly when able to trigger the three-hit passive. Wait for Zed to use Shadow for poke, and then dash in to trade effectively.
Akshan – Ranged Pressure
Akshan may not be a popular mid laner, but he is a strong counter against Zed, especially in the early game. With a range advantage and a passive that grants movement speed and extra damage, Akshan can consistently pressure Zed, denying farm and experience. Even when Zed farms under turret, Akshan can harass with auto attacks.
As the game progresses, the matchup evens out, but Zed has no way to kill Akshan before level six. However, strong laning fundamentals are required to make this pick work effectively.
Lissandra – Defensive Control
Lissandra may not be at the top of the mid lane champion pool, but she is a reliable option for neutralizing assassins like Zed. She can harass Zed in the laning phase, and her crowd controls and ultimate allow her to survive all-ins and heal up most of the damage taken.
Compared to the other two champions, Lissandra is more of a defensive pick to counter Zed’s strengths. If you need strong setup for teamfights, Lissandra is a champion worth considering.
Worst Zed Counters
Hwei – Struggles Against Zed
The newest champion Hwei is powerful, but has a hard time against mobile champions like Zed who can dodge most of Hwei’s abilities. Zed has great all-in potential early on, making it difficult for Hwei to win the matchup, resulting in a low win rate for Hwei against Zed.
Veigar – Struggles to Scale Against Zed
Veigar doesn’t have many mid lane counters, but Zed is one of the few champions that can give him a hard time. Like Hwei, Veigar struggles against all-ins and slippery champions like Zed. Zed’s early game potential can also delay Veigar’s scaling, making it a difficult matchup for Veigar.
Countering Zed Items
Countering Zed in League of Legends involves not only picking champions but also building specific items. When facing Zed, it’s recommended to stack armor early on to survive his burst damage. Here are some items to build based on the class of champions you’re playing:
- Bruisers/AD champions: Guardian’s Angel, Sterak’s Gage, Death Dance
- AP champions: Zhonya’s Hourglass
- Tanks: Dead Man’s Plate, Jak’Sho the Protean
Best Champions Against Zed
The top three champions are Ekko, Akshan, and Lissandra. Other options to consider include Gragas, Sylas, and Malphite, but they are situational picks.
Does LeBlanc Counter Zed?
In the past, the LeBlanc-Zed matchup was popular, but it now favors Zed. However, with a good understanding of trading and avoiding harassment from LeBlanc, Zed can come out on top in this matchup.
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